Ukrainian Peace talks in Minsk (archive)

MOSCOW, December 16. /TASS/. Kiev is not ready for a new meeting of the Minsk group due to unwillingness to discuss economic issues with the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People’s republics, which causes concern, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told the France 24 TV channel.

“As far as I understand, the reason for a delay in convening the Minsk meeting is directly linked to the intention of representatives of Donetsk and Luhansk to put on the agenda not only discussion of cessation of fire (which is vitally important) but also the issue of exchange of hostages,” Lavrov said.

“The sides are currently discussing their number, specifying the list,” he said. “Representatives of the DPR and LPR also want — and I consider that very important — to start discussion of economic aspects contained in the Minsk protocol which envision resumption of economic interaction,” Lavrov said.

“As far as I understand, now the Kiev authorities are not expressing readiness to discuss economic problems yet. This causes a certain concern,” he said.